Amenita strong in the market and at the finish Amenita brought up plenty of bets when finishing well to collar Star Of Beauty in the opening three-year-old fillies' maiden over a mile in Gowran Park. Dermot Weld's charge was seen just the once last season when sixth in Cork and has reaped the benefit of a winter's grass. The experienced Star Of Beauty attempted to get away a furlong and a half out, with Amenita taking closer order in fourth. Chris Hayes rode Amenita into third just outside the furlong pole and she availed of a lovely seam between Star Of Beauty and Elusive Echo to challenge and indeed lead in the closing stages. The Kingman filly kept on well to win by half a length to reward favourite backers at 9/4 having been as big as 8/1 this morning. Star Of Beauty had to settle for second at 11/4 and she was a length and a quarter in front of Elusive Echo (9/2). Weld said: “She did it nicely and got a lovely ride from Chris Hayes, he rode her with confidence and just produced her in the last furlong. “I think she’ll go another furlong. She settled nicely for him and when he pulled her out, she settled it pretty quickly. “We’ll see how she comes out of the race before we make any decisions for her.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
